Los Angeles Starts Licensing Process for Cannabis Growers

The City of Los Angeles has begun accepting license applications for cannabis growers, manufacturers, and test labs, after months of delay. The city’s Department of Cannabis Regulation began accepting license applications through its web portal on Wednesday.

LA Slow To License Cannabis Industry

Los Angeles has been the subject of criticism for the slow pace of licensing commercial cannabis businesses in the city. So far, the city has only granted approval to about 150 retail shops. No cultivators, processors, or testing facilities have yet received permission to operate in Los Angeles. Other major cities including Oakland and San Diego began the licensing process months earlier.

Commercial cannabis activity became legal in California under Prop 64 on January 1, 2018. But before businesses can begin operating legally, they must first obtain approval from the state and the local jurisdiction in which they are located.

The delay has been a burden for many of those who wish to operate a cannabis business in Los Angeles. Many have been paying thousands of dollars in rent each month for commercial space that they are not yet able to use to generate income.

Donnie Anderson, a cannabis retailer and cultivator, told the Associated Press that it